Art and thoughts by Roger Vincent Jasaitis

I have seen exactly one monarch butterfly this summer. As recently as 3 or 4 years ago this was the dominant large butterfly species here in Vermont. I would see countless monarchs fluttering over the meadows and roadsides. Not any more.

There have been many media reports over the last couple of years about the decline of this species. If you are paying attention you are witnessing the extinction of a species right before your eyes. Have you heard of the term Anthropocene? The Anthropocene is a proposed epoch that begins when human activities started to have a significant global impact on Earth’s geology and ecosystems.(1) This is a significant event.

Sustainability should be the idea foremost on your mind. What kind of world are we leaving for our children? The recent battle over GMO (genetically modified organism) labeling is a case in point. Vermont passed food labeling laws that would have required explicit labeling of GMO’s in food. The food lobby immediately got Congress to pass watered down National laws that will be “studied” for years to come. The food lobby do not want you to know what is in your food. Their interest is in protecting corporate profits.

Yes the scientists say that GMO’s are safe for humans to eat. To look at the big picture is a different story. The reason that Corporations like Monsanto developed GMOs is to make farming more profitable. They develop seeds that produce plants that can survive the spraying of herbicides, so that the weeds die but not the crop plant. Those weeds include the plants, like milkweed for instance, that the monarch butterflies need to survive. By you buying GMO foods you are supporting this practice of spraying millions of tons of herbicides on the earth.

Organically produced foods, another point, are considered by the scientists to be no more beneficial than non-organically farmed crops for human consumption. For the earth it is a different story. Millions of tons of chemical fertilizers and pesticides are used on non-organically farmed crops every year. These chemicals don’t discriminate between harmful insects and beneficial insects, like bees, and birds and amphibians. This is to say nothing of the runoff and overspray that goes into our rivers, lakes, and aquifers. Remember Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring?

Safe for human consumption does not mean safe for the earth and it’s wild inhabitants.

I am saddened by the passing of this beautiful butterfly into extinction. Because of it’s beauty it’s absence is noted. There are now thousands of species going extinct around the world while we live our lives, not paying attention. Remember this word; Anthropocene if you are ever lucky enough to see the last monarch.

Ps. The BBC released a feature today on the issue:

The notion that we have entered a new geological age is real and should be formally recognised, according to an international report.

The verdict comes from a panel set up to judge the merits of adding an Anthropocene (“Age of Humans”) time segment to the history of the Earth.

The group delivered its preliminary evidence and recommendations on Monday.

5 thoughts on “End of the Monarchy”

Kyle Hartung08/23/2016 / 3:06 pm

Sobering post rog! Miss you all and look forward to catching up soon.

On Tuesday, August 23, 2016, Roger Vincent Jasaitis wrote:

> Roger Vincent Jasaitis posted: ” I have seen exactly one monarch > butterfly this summer. As recently as 3 or 4 years ago this was the > dominant large butterfly species here in Vermont. I would see countless > monarchs fluttering over the meadows and roadsides. Not any more. ” >

So sorry to hear that is the case up in VT. I’m happy to say I’ve have seen many Monarchs here in Miami along with other beautiful species. I have Porterweed growing in my front yard that attracts them all. I agree with your whole article regarding the GMOs and pesticides. Thanks for the sobering look at what greed and big corporations like Monsanto are creating on our planet. The other day I was surprised to see an addition to the label on the back of a bag of Lay’s Potato Chips. In slightly larger print it says, “Partially Produced With Genetic Engineering”. It was a surprise to me. Ginger

I’m seeing similar results here. I have 4 butterfly bushes and usually see 3 or 4 on each whenever I glance outside but this yr I see only 1 or 2 a day. Sometimes there are skimmers the tiny ones. And the plants they use to feed the caterpillars haven’t bloomed yet. We’ve had many really hot humid days. Take care all.